In a significant development for the country’s energy sector, Monalisa C. Dimalanta has been reinstated as chairperson and CEO of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). This decision comes following an Order dated 22 October 2024, issued by the Office of the Ombudsman, which found that the grounds for her preventive suspension were no longer valid.
The Ombudsman’s order said, “after a thorough evaluation of the present case records, this Office finds that the ground which justifies the continued imposition of preventive suspension no longer exists. Therefore, the preventive suspension is no longer necessary.”
On Thursday morning, the Office of the Executive Secretary formally transmitted a Memorandum dated 30 October 2024, reinstating Dimalanta effective immediately, in accordance with the Ombudsman’s directive.
The ERC welcomed this decision, emphasizing that it will foster stability within the agency and the broader energy industry. The Commission also acknowledged the efforts of officer-in-charge Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, whose leadership was instrumental during the transitional period.
With Dimalanta’s return, the ERC is poised to resume its critical role as the country’s energy regulator, assuring stakeholders that operations will continue uninterrupted and in alignment with its mandate. The Commission remains committed to addressing the evolving needs of the energy sector as it navigates ongoing challenges.
